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Police-spec Ram 1500 4x4 Special Service package debuts

November 7, 2011

The Ram 1500 4x4 Special Service vehicle gets heavy-duty parts to deal with long hours of usage by police. Photo by Ram

The horde of vehicles vying for police duty got bigger on Nov. 8 with the announcement by Ram of a new 1500 4X4 Special Service pickup prepped for police work. It includes options tailor-made for cops on patrol.

Ram outfitted its new truck for long hours both running and idling with 100,000-mile spark plugs, a large oil cooler and an engine hour meter and idle hour meter for keeping track of maintenance and use.

Cop-spec electrical gear is part of the package too, with a 220-amp alternator and a unique wiring harness delivering power via an electrical distribution center, with fuses and relays for a camera, computer, modem and printers.

The front bucket seats are cloth while the rear bench is covered in vinyl. A special headliner houses a dome light over the front seats, and the center console is removed to add more space for equipment. The shifter is moved to the steering column. Extra welds are added to the body structure to handle the weight of the ballistic materials used by law-enforcement officials.

The Ram 1500 Special Service pickup is only offered in Crew Cab configuration, which allows for 125 cubic feet of interior volume. It's also available with the RamBox, an option we'd expect most police officers would like.

Power from the Hemi engine stays at 390 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque, while towing remains at 10,000 pounds. The brakes and tires are also stock, and the truck has 17-inch steel wheels. The Ram's rear coil-over suspension setup, which we've applauded for its smooth ride, also carries over unchanged.